The son of Libya’s embattled president whom the international media had generally reported to be under arrest and detention by Libyan rebels and more so confirmed by the International Criminal Court, has re-emerged as a free man amidst thousands of supporters in the Libyan Capital, Tripoli.
Saif al-Islam previously seen as successor to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi is serving as prime minister in his father’s government.
Saif visited the Tripoli hotel where foreign journalists are staying to declare that the government was winning the battle against the rebels.
Saif whose beard has overgrown as opposed to his clean shaven trademark image, appeared in jubilant mood flashing the V for victory sign. He later took journalists to his father’s Bab al-Aziziyah stronghold. Television footage
showed Saif smiling, waving and shaking hands with supporters.
“We broke the back of the rebels. It was a trap. We gave them a hard time, so we are winning,” Saif said.
“Take up arms today, take up arms today,” Saif told loyalists waiting to be given weapons. “Inshallah (God willing) we will attack the rats today,” he said to cheers.
In an audio broadcast on Sunday on state TV, Gaddafi said he would stay in Tripoli “until the end.” There has been speculation, however, he might seek refuge in his home region around Sirte, or abroad.
In a sign Gaddafi allies were still determined to fight, NATO said government forces fired three Scud-type missiles from the area of Sirte toward the rebel-held city of Misrata.
Bab al-Aziziyah, a huge complex where some believe Gaddafi might be hiding, was the focal point of fighting in Tripoli.
“I don’t imagine the Bab al-Aziziyah compound will fall easily and I imagine there will be a fierce fight,” Abdel Hafiz Ghoga, spokesman for the rebel National Transitional Council, said in an interview aired by Al-Jazeera.
Emerging reports from the battle front indicate that Libyan rebels have early today clashed with an army convoy coming from the city of Sirte, killing tens of Gaddafi’s troops. The reports have not said the exact place where the clash has happened. Sirte was heavily bombed by NATO just before rebel forces moved into Tripoli.
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